Only one black speaker on tap for the entire Republican National Convention

[NewJeffCT]

Amazingly, the only African-American speaker scheduled for the entire convention (and not just prime time!) is Michael Steele. The writer in this article is an African-American woman and former Bush appointee who is now a supporter of Obama.

No Room At The Table For Black Republicans

By YVONNE R. DAVIS
August 31, 2008

With stiff upper lips and phony grins, black Republicans are going to the Republican National Convention in Minnesota to be dissed by the party. Many will make believe they are down for Sen. John McCain — too afraid to come out the closet for Obama.

Since the 2000 and 2004 Republican conventions, a lot has changed for African American Republicans. I was a vice chairwoman for Bush in Connecticut, a national co-chairwoman for African Americans for Bush, a surrogate spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee and worked on Latino outreach efforts nationwide. With a number of blacks, I served on various committees to plan events at the Philadelphia and Big Apple conventions. There were rainbow coalitions of interns and delegates. Featured speakers such as Colin Powell, J.C. Watts Jr., Condolezza Rice, black actors and ministers and gospel singers played a role on prime-time television.

Black Republicans had a voice, working in key positions participating in everything from building the Republican Party platform to prayer breakfasts, hosting events and most important, being heard on issues vital to us. George W. Bush was a "new kind of Republican." He desired to show we were a part of the party of Lincoln. But oh, how times have changed.

I've gone from having VIP seats sitting in the Bush family box to having a premier seat on my living room couch in Windsor from which to watch the Republican convention. I will miss the hurrahs, shout-outs, fist pumps and holding up the signs. I will miss talking to the president, his family and so many people who were interested in what was important to African Americans. Real or perceived, there was an effort to engage us.

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-commentarydavis0831.artaug31,0,3487488.story

[baldguy]

1. So many?

[NewJeffCT]

4. well, considering

they have Colin Powell & son Michael, Condi Rice, the woman from Georgia mentioned in the article, JC Watts, Larry Thompson, Rod Paige, Lynn Swann, and a few others that I probably missed.

[BlooInBloo]

2. They'll never like you, Yvonne.

[NewJeffCT]

5. I think her point was

that under Bush, sincere or not, (her words) there was the attempt to reach out to minorities. The McCain GOP is lacking in that department.

[KittyWampus]

3. that's why they're moving to Hurricane zone, the blacks will be in the background drowning

[vaberella]

6. There never was, we eat at their feet. The Dems had Black, Hispanic, they missed ONLY Asian.

Wait...no Asian speakers, but Obama's family is Asian and the DNC has tons of Asian members since the committee had two Asian women if I remember correctly one was Filippino descent.

[Donkeykick]

7. This subject doesn't surprise me one bit!

n/t

[TommyO]

8. The other two need to stay on the floor to show their diversity.

[NewJeffCT]

10. There are a few prominent black Republicans

Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Lynn Swann, JC Watts, Larry Thompson (#2 in the Ashcroft Justice Dept) plus a few in the House.

[Historic NY]

9. McCain must be having trouble hiring help..........

John McCain's website now has a listing for African Americans along with a number of other minority groups, but the truth is that the outreach is only implied.

I guess Steele is delivering a critical state. for the most part the GOP has used minorities for window dressing, I think some now are finding that out.